LovetoCruise87

When my wife and I started cruising, we were young and were always trying to save money, so the first few cruises where in an inside stateroom. I know everyone says that they don't spend much time in the stateroom anyway, so it doesn't matter. But after a couple of times of being in a CAVE, we moved to a balcony and have for all of our cruises since. I love being able to come back to the cabin and relax on the balcony in the afternoon or any time at night. 

I am slowly beginning to think that my Aug 22 cruise on Allure may actually happen, unless this is all just a dream. 

10 hours ago, twangster said:

I think the 60d estimate was from the days of no vaccines.  Just as we know a lot more now and there are many different thoughts on virus tactics, the cruise lines have been learning and changing.  They have experience now operating cruises.  We saw them load material months ago now.  It appears Navigator at a minimum is getting batches of crew every few days.

I guess what I'm trying to say is the clock doesn't start upon the big announcement we are all waiting for.  The clock has already started and they are already spinning up the machine, 60 days isn't the time needed anymore, at least for some ships.

I agree. Everything has already started to move.  I believe that we will see cruising from US ports by mid July at the latest, even from Florida ports. 

Just reading an article and a Public Health and Law Professor from USF, Dr. Jay Wolfson,  stated that the new law won't stop most cruises from sailing from the state. He stated that "the cruise lines can legally ask you for proof of vaccination and that they are not a Florida company, I don't think any of them really are. I don't think the governor would stand in the way of that happening".

I believe that this new law pertains to the things that we do every day here in Florida. 

Waiting to see if the CDC changes their minds and says, 'oh we're sorry, that's not what we meant to say.'

But hopeful that they will stick to it and things can start moving to restarting an industry that is missed by so very many people!

One other thing that I just read in an article. A maritime lawyer in Miami said that DeSantis may not have the jurisdiction needed to either prohibit cruise lines from enforcing a vaccine mandate or bring cruises back. So it makes sense that since we know that he does not have the power to allowing cruising to start back in the state, he would not have the authority to keep cruise lines from enforcing a vaccine mandate.
 

14 hours ago, twangster said:

If cruises and by association the cruise lines are "Florida business entities" under s. 768.38, wouldn't they qualify for state assistance like the seaports have?

I would say yes. But as they have not received any state assistance during the pandemic, then that would in theory release them from the no vaccine passport. 

Very complex as the entity Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd has it's headquarters in Miami, but all of the ships are registered in the Bahamas. None of their ships were built in the USA thus they don't have to be registered here. That begs the question, if they are not registered in the USA, not built in the USA, only the company headquarters is located here, are they required to follow the law of the state in which their ships are homeported?

With a key lawmaker saying he recognizes that vaccine hesitancy is "real and understandable," the Florida House on Wednesday approved a measure that would limit local emergency orders and make permanent Gov. Ron DeSantis’ executive order barring COVID-19 vaccine "passports."

The House voted 76-40 to approve the proposal (SB 2006), which Pandemics & Public Emergencies Committee Chairman Tom Leek, R-Ormond Beach, said would prepare Florida for the next public-health emergency while striking a "delicate balance between protecting people and protecting people's civil liberties."

Cruise ship operators will also be allowed to enter into agreements with multiple ports instead of just one single port, as long as all local health authorities and all ports sign off.

I think this is a good idea and that it would actually speed up the process of getting sailing again. One agreement, multiple ports. 

I think that the cruise lines will ultimately make the decision to have all crew and passengers vaccinated. 100%

I know some people will balk at this, but I believe it is either that or no ships sailing from US ports.

9 hours ago, twangster said:

 

If they cancel a Florida cruise because not enough guests were vaccinated does that put them at odds with the Florida Governor DeSantis EO that says they can't require guests to be vaccinated?  Are they violating the Governor's EO simply by asking if a guest is vaccinated?

So many questions.

I live in Florida and I support Gov. DeSantis, but with him putting out that EO of businesses in Florida cant require guests, customers to show proof of vaccinations drives me crazy. With one breath he wants cruising to start, but with the other he is putting a road block in the way. 

I personally feel that cruise lines should not fall under that mandate and the Governor needs to make a clarification in that EO. 

Have not seen Chicago, but did see CATS

I wonder if the CDC knows that the upper decks of a cruise ship are outdoors. Hmmm... lol

24 minutes ago, twangster said:

I think either the administration steps in and directs the CDC to get real or cruising remains locked down until Nov. 1.

I think it's that simple. 

I agree. It really is going to take the administration jumping in and kicking the CDC into allowing cruises to re-start. I really hope that the lock down does not continue till Nov. 1. That would bean another booked cruise to reschedule. 

I have emailed the CDC twice and both times I received the standard response that can be seen on their website. I sent the following email to them, and surprise, I did not get a response back. In my believe, the CDC will keep tight on this as long as they can.  My response is in bold. 

Passengers who plan to travel by cruise ship should contact their cruise line companies directly for further information concerning their itineraries. (Didn't ask about that)

CDC has issued a Level 4 Travel Health Notice with a clear recommendation to avoid all cruise travel due to ongoing spread of COVID-19 and the increased risk of person-to-person spread of infectious diseases on cruise ships. (There is no ongoing spread. That is a statement from Oct 2020, the rate is now decreasing)

The CSO, outlined in Oct 2020, stated what cruise lines needed to do in order to sail again:

*Testing and additional safeguards for crew members.  DONE

*Cruise ship operators have adequate health and safety protections for crew members while they build the laboratory capacity needed to test future passengers. DONE

*Simulated voyages to test cruise operators' ability to mitigate COVID-19 risk. ALREADY PROVEN

The CSO also states that in October 2020 the virus "continues to spread rapidly around the world with no U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized vaccines."   There are now at least vaccines that are working  and more and more people are being vaccinated..in the United States 38% of the population have had a least one dose and almost 25% of the nation is fully vaccinated. Since Jan 8, 2020 the 7 day average of new cases in the United States has DECREASED by an average of 202,295 people and the deaths over the same period have DECREASED an average of 2,002 deaths per 7 days.

The CSO is outdated as is being proven by science and data. It is time to rescind that order and allow Cruise operators to get all of their people back to work.

I can live with the restrictions. We are just really missing being at sea.

Only 1:  Allure Aug 22-29

Good question. They may or may not. I know that some fast food places on shore allow the use of the Free Style soda machines.

Really looking forward to this cruise. We were originally supposed to go last November, but of course it was cancelled. Anyone else going to be on this cruise? 

I NEED A CRUISE BADLY!!!!

Thank you. Hoping that our Aug 22nd cruise on Allure out of Port Canaveral will be a go. This is a reschedule from our cruise that was cancelled last November. 

Hello all. I am new here to the blog, but not new to RC. My wife and I have cruised with RC 9 times and love each and every time we do. Looking forward to engaging in the conversations.